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How important are matching frictions in the labor market? Experimental & non-experimental evidence from a large Indian firm

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  • Banerjee, Abhijit V.
  • Chiplunkar, Gaurav

Abstract

This paper provides evidence of matching frictions in the Indian labor market. Using several methods to elicit genuine preferences of job-seekers over jobs, we show that: (a) there is substantial variation in job-seekers preferences over the same jobs; and (b) placement officers, responsible for placing job-seekers in jobs, have poor knowledge of it. Providing placement offers with this information improves matching of job-seekers to interviews, even after taking into account redistribution of jobs across job-seekers. Treated job-seekers get more preferred jobs and retain them in the short run (three months), but not in the longer run (six months).

Suggested Citation

  • Banerjee, Abhijit V. & Chiplunkar, Gaurav, 2024. "How important are matching frictions in the labor market? Experimental & non-experimental evidence from a large Indian firm," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:171:y:2024:i:c:s0304387824000798
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103330
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